Man sets himself on fire at Rome Airport

A 19-year-old Ivory Coast man, who was believed to be awaiting deportation, set fire to himself at Rome's Fiumicino airport yesterday (Thursday).

The unidentified man showed officials a deportation notice then poured a plastic canister of fuel over himself and ran through the terminal toward a departure gate where he set himself on fire.

The flames were put out by a police officer and the man was taken to a local hospital where he is said to be in a serious condition with extensive burns. It is believed the police officer had burns on his arms and was also taken to hospital.

A small part of the airport's terminal 3 was closed off for a short time, but no other significant delays or disruptions occured.

According to the Associated Press, the man had not yet passed through security.

Sky News, whose producer Beth Fairweather was at the gate when the incident occured, reported that the man's request for asylum was denied and that he was being sent home. Click here for the Sky News video report.

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